The Liberation Festival Pilsen has special edition groceries. They made it together with the COOP retail chain stores.

A special edition of products to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Pilsen by the U.S. Army will be offered for two months by COOP retail chain stores in western Bohemia. There will be six types of food products with the name "Liberation Festival Pilsen 2025." This project has been inspired by the post-war food aid of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA).

"This is a special project to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation by the U.S. Army. It celebrates both historical events and the time when UNRRA food aid was essential to returning to normal life after the war. The project also includes marketing support for the Liberation Festival Pilsen program in the COOP chain's leaflets. This means that the campaign will reach the entire region," explains Jana Komišová from the marketing department of the Pilsen City Hall.
COOP stores in the West Bohemian region will offer customers six types of goods with the graphic motif of the Liberation Festival Pilsen. They will be able to buy roasted coffee beans, chocolate, coffee cream, raisins, black tea, and quality varietal wine.
"Each product is made with care and with the historical significance of the liberation of Pilsen in mind," says Jiří Vazač, a representative of the COOP cooperatives of West Bohemia. Vazač believes that customers will love the limited edition products, and that they will also become an ideal gift or souvenir for visitors to the celebrations.
The special products will be available in 176 stores run by four West Bohemian cooperatives: COOP Plzeň, COOP Plasy, Jednota SD in Tachov, and ZKD Sušice. This year is the 75th anniversary of the liberation. The cooperatives are celebrating by joining the International Year of Cooperatives, which was declared by the UN General Assembly. This shows that cooperatives support local communities, claim their region, and strengthen people's resilience. UNRRA's food aid after World War II did all of this," adds Jiří Vazac.
UNRRA's food aid was a symbol of solidarity between nations and helped rebuild the region's economy and social fabric. "Thanks to this aid, we could provide basic needs for thousands of people affected by the war," says Ivan Rollinger from Patton Memorial Pilsen, where you can see many of the food items in their original packaging. Some of the food was new to the local people. Some of these foods included milk powder, lemon powder, and grapefruit juice. Many people did not know how to use and consume these foods properly. Peanut butter was also new at the time, and some people still remember its taste today. Ivan Rollinger also talks about the quality of canned and vacuum-packed products. He tested some of them himself in the 1990s and said they tasted great.
The UNRRA was in charge of not only food distribution, but also medical care, clothing, and other basic needs. After the war in Pilsen, it managed logistics operations to provide aid and support to the local population and displaced persons in the region. Pilsen was known for its factories and military importance during the war. It benefited greatly from UNRRA's efforts to rebuild infrastructure and provide humanitarian assistance during the difficult post-war period.